Outline

Overview

This unit examines the relation between sexuality, desire, gender and the sacred as presented in a diverse range of religious traditions; mysticism; tantra; cults of virginity and abstinence; sacred androgyny; philosophy of religion approach to gender and ontology, epistemology and ethics; cultural difference as it pertains to issues of religion and sexuality.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Studies in Religion
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 level in Studies in Religion
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	RLST2635
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Christopher Humphrey Hartney, christopher.hartney@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Christopher Humphrey Hartney, christopher.hartney@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Presentation Presentation	10%	Multiple weeks	1000wd
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Tutorial participation Tutorial participation	10%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Public Discourse Analysis Public Discourse Analysis	30%	Week 06 Due date: 06 Sep 2024 at 23:59	2000wd
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Essay Essay	50%	Week 13 Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59	3000wd
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Presentation:听Students are required to deliver a 10 minute presentation on an allocated tutorial topic.

Participation: Students are required to engage in discussions on-line and via Canvas discussion boards throughout the unit

Essay: Students are required to respond to one essay question from a list provided. Further instructions will be given in class.

Public Discourse Analysis: Students are required to select one example of public discourse and analyse its听presentation听of relevant unit themes. Further instructions will be given in class.听听

Assessment criteria

Please see the Faculty Guide to Grades for a breakdown of the assessment framework for all assessment tasks in this unit.

/students/guide-to-grades.html

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per Faculty guidelines

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the .

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the .

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a听simple extension.鈥� The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can鈥檛 complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for听special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students,听听includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy听reflects the University鈥檚 commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to Unit: No Readings in Week 1	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	Divine Feminine: Gender, Myth, and Culture in Yoruba and Gnostic Traditions	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Abstinence and Excess: Discourses of Regulation	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	Queering Spirituality: Gender, Sexuality, and Identity in Religious Narratives	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	Androgyny, Celibacy and the 'Sexless' Individual	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	Philosophies of Desire & Sexual Difference	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	Essay Question Workshop: Arguments and Strategy	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 08	Eros: From Greek Myth to Modern Theory	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 09	Queer Changes and Gender in Myths and Spiritual Practices	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	Desire and Mysticism	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	Tantra, Sacred Sex and Sex Magic	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Cosmology and Gender: Perspectives in Daoism and Buddhism	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 13	Gender and Supernatural Beings	Seminar (2 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Instructions with regard to reading requirements will be provided in class.

Week 1:听No Readings

Week 2

Beier, Ulli.听Yoruba Myths.听Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Archive.听1980, pp. x鈥搙iv.

Joseph M., and Mei-Mei Sanford. "Introduction." In听Osun across the Waters: A听Yoruba Goddess in Africa and the Americas. edited by Joseph M. Murphy听听听and Mei-Mei Sanford, Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 2001, pp.听听听听听听1鈥�9.

Temisanren, Ebijuwa. "Views of Women in Yoruba Culture and Their Impact听on the Abortion Decision."听Women & Health听22, no. 3 (1995): 1鈥�8.

"The Secret Book of John." In听The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and听听听Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume,听edited by Marvin Meyer, New York: HarperOne, 2009, 103鈥�32.听

King, Karen. "Reading Sex and Gender in the Secret Revelation of John."听The听Journal of Early Christian Studies听19, no. 4 (2011): 519鈥�538.

Week 3:听Abstinence and Excess: Discourses of Regulation

Staples, Ariadne.听From Good Goddess to Vestal Virgins: Sex and Category in听Roman Religion. London: Routledge, 1998, pp. 129鈥�156.

Augustine: 鈥楢dolescence'. Translated by Henry Chadwick. In听Confessions.听Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 24鈥�34.

Week 4:听Queering Traditions

Wilcox, Melissa M. "Queer Theory and the Study of Religion." In听Queer Religion. Volume 2: LGBT Movements and Queering Religion. edited by Donald L.听Boisvert and Jay Emerson Johnson, Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2012, pp. 227-听听听251.鈥�

Kripal, Jeffrey J.听The Serpent's Gift: Gnostic Reflections on the Study of Religion.听Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007, pp. 29鈥�58.

Lefkovitz, Lori Hope. "Passing as a Man: Narratives of Jewish Gender听听Performance."听狈补谤谤补迟颈惫别听10, no. 1 (2002): 91鈥�103.

Week 5:听Androgyny, Celibacy and the 'Sexless' Individual

Michael F. Brown, 鈥楾oward Sacred Androgyny,鈥櫶齣n听The Channeling Zone:听American Spirituality in an Anxious Age.听Cambridge: Harvard University听Press, 1997, pp. 93-114.

Raine, Susan. "Reconceptualising the human body: Heaven's Gate and the听quest for divine transformation."听搁别濒颈驳颈辞苍听35, no. 2 (2005): 98鈥�117.听

Week 6: Philosophies of Desire & Sexual Difference

Irigaray, Luce. "Sexual Difference." Translated by Carolyn Burke and Gillian听C. Gill. In听An Ethics of Sexual Difference. Ithaca: Cornell University听听听Press, 1993, pp. 5鈥�19.

Irigaray, Luce. "Spiritual Tasks for Our Age." In听Luce Irigaray: Key Writings.听London and New York: Continuum, 2004, pp. 171鈥�185.

Deleuze, Gilles, and F茅lix Guattari. "The Body without Organs." Translated by听听听听听听Robert Hurley, Mark Seem and Helen R. Lane. In听Anti-Oedipus:听Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota听Press, 1983, pp. 9鈥�16.

Protevi, John. "The Organism as the Judgement of God: Aristotle, Kant and听Deleuze on Nature (that is, On Biology, Theology and Politics)." In听听Deleuze and Religion. edited by Mary Bryden. London and New York:听Routledge, 2001, pp. 30鈥�41.

Week 7: Eros: From Greek Myth to Modern Theory

Bataille, Georges. 鈥楳ysticism and Sensuality鈥櫶齣n听贰谤辞迟颈肠颈蝉尘听(Paris: Editions de听Minuit, 1957), reprinted Mary Dalwood, trans.London and New York:听Marion Boyars,听1987, pp.听221-251.

Week 8:听

Blain,听Jenny. 鈥�贰谤驳颈听Sei冒man, Queer Transformations?鈥櫶齣n听Nine Worlds of Seid-听Magic: Ecstasy and Neo- Shamanism in North European Paganism.听London听and New York: Routledge, 2002, pp. 111-141.听

Pinch, Geraldine.听Handbook of Egyptian Mythology.听听Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO,听2002, pp. 78鈥�80.

Week 9: Desire and Mysticism

Amy Hollywood,听鈥楳ysticism, Trauma, and Catastrophe in Angela of听听听听听听听听听听Foligno鈥檚叠辞辞办听and Bataille鈥檚听Atheological Summa鈥�, inSensible Ecstasy:听听Mysticism, Sexual Difference and the Demands of History,Chicago and听London: University of Chicago Press, 2002, pp. 60-87.

Week 10: Tantra, Sacred Sex and Sex Magic

David Gordon White, 鈥楾he Blood of the Yogini: Vital and Sexual Fluids inSouth Asian Thought and Practice,鈥櫶齣n听Kiss of the Yogini: 鈥淭antric Sex鈥� in听听its South Asian Contexts,听Chicago and London: The University of听Chicago Press, 2003, pp. 67-93.听

Urban, Hugh B. "India鈥檚 Darkest Heart: Tantra in the Literary Imagination." In听Tantra: Sex, Secrecy, Politics, and Power in the Study of Religions. Berkeley:听University of California Press, 2003, pp. 106鈥�133.

Djurdjevic, Gordan. "Solve et Coagula: Attitudes toward the Ambrosial听Aspects of Human Seed in Certain Yogic Traditions and in the Sexual听Magick of Aleister Crowley."听Aries: Journal for the Study of Western听Esotericism听10, no. 1 (2010): 85鈥�106.听

Week 11: Sexual Energies: Self and World

Yao, Xinzhong. "Harmony of Yin and Yang: Cosmology and Sexuality in听听听听Daoism." In听Sexuality and the World鈥檚 Religions. edited by David W.听Machacek and Melissa M. Wilcox. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2003, pp.听65鈥�99

Rita M. Gross, 鈥楪ender and Buddha-Nature: Feminist Comments on Third-Turning Teachings and on the Vajrayana,鈥櫶齣n听Buddhism after Patriarchy:听听A Feminist History, Analysis, and Reconstruction of Buddhism,听Albany:听State University of New York Press, 1993, pp. 185-206.听

Week 12: Gender and Supernatural Beings

Barnes, Nancy J. "Lady Rokuj艒's Ghost: Spirit Possession, Buddhism, and听Healing in Japanese Literature."听Literature and Medicine听8, no. 1(1989):106鈥�121.

听

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Develop skills in critical thinking and disciplinary knowledge
LO2. Increase knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity and difference
LO3. Develop skills in oral and written communication
LO4. Increase capacity for interdisciplinary analysis
LO5. Utilise knowledge and analysis skills in understanding and participating in the contemporary world

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all 爆料王 graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one鈥檚 personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered'.

Disclaimer

Important: the 爆料王 regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an .

爆料王

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

爆料王

RLST3605: Sex, Desire and the Sacred

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links